Building-block-molding machine



G. C. DEBAY BUILDING BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I not G.C.DEBAY BUILDING BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet al l I E HHHIJ F I INVEgT R Dec. 1924- 1,517,713

ca. c. DEBAY BUILDING BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 6

INVENTOR 4//3 /5 Patented Dec. 2, 192%.

UNITED eras GEORGE C. DEBAY, 0F SIPBINGDALE, FEHNSYLVANIA.

BUILDING-BL!)(IX-MOLDING Application fi led. May 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Gnonen C. DEBAY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Springdale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Building-Block- Molding Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the manufacture of building blocks and has special reference to machines for making blocks from plastic material with air spaces or openings formed therein.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the block shall be formed accurately with great rapidity and at reduced cost.

In Letters Patent No. 1,862,928 granted to me December 21, 1920, I'have described and claimed a machine for making building blocks in which a series of mold sections are carried by a pair of endless chains which travel lengthwise with respect to a pair of stationary core members, the movable sections being caused to close over the core members to form the molds which are thereafter filled with plastic molding ma terial and compacted by means of suitable compressors.

The machine which forms the subject of my present application resembles the machine of my prior patent in that a series of molds composed of separable sections is causedto move continuously past a source of plastic material and lengthwise with respect to a set of core bars. In the present machine, however, the mold sections are car ried on two endless chains having parallel runs adjacent to each other on opposite sides of the core members, each chain carrying half of each mold and the two halves of each mold being thus brought into engagement around the core members at one end of the machine and traveling together along the core members and beneath the feeding and compacting means. Thereafter, the mold sections are separated to discharge the linished blocks which are carried away either by hand or by suitable conveying means. The two cooperating endless chains may be arranged either side by side or one above the other, both of these modifications being shown in the accompanying drawings, in which MACHINE. g

Serial N0. 472,318.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken centrally through a machine in which the endless chains are arranged side by s'de and the plastic material is fed vertically into the molds; Fig. 2 is an end View of the machine shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same machine; Fig. l is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 14't, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the blocks made on the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 4:; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view showing means for making a modified form of block; 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the base plate shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is an end view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a modified arrangement in which the chains carrying the mold sections are arranged one above the other.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the numeral 2 designates a driving shaft mounted in bearings 3 in a frame 4, and driven from any suitable source of power, not shown. The shaft 2, as best shown in Fig. 2, carries a pair of bevel pinions 5 which mesh with bevel gear wheels 6 carried at the lower end of vertical shafts 7, to each of which is secured near its upper end a pair of spaced sprocket wheels 8 separated by means of suitable spacing collars 9. The frame 4 also carries short vertical shafts 10 to which are secured two pairs of spaced sprocketwheels 11, similar to the sprocket wheels 8. Endless chains 12 extend around the sprocket wheels 8 and 11, as best shown in Fig. 3, and each pair of these chains carries a series of L-shaped mold sections, each of which has a long portion 13 carried by one of the links of the endless chains and a short portion 14 having openings 15, corresponding in number and size to the openings required in the finished blocks.

Between the adjacent and parallel runs of the chains 12 is a set of stationary core members 16, each of which is secured to a standard 17 on the frame 4 by means of a bolt 18. The core members extend through the openings 15 in the mold sections and are sup ported by the mold sections which travel along the cores. These core members may be of uniform diameter from end to end, or, as shown at 19 in Figs. 1 and 3, may be tapered to assist in compacting the plastic material after it is P a ed the molds. It will thu 7 into a trough 22 containing a feed screw 23 carried by e. shaft that is oriven' by means of n'i'iter g'e rs and 26, the 26 being iarried by asha'lt 2? driven from any suitable source of power, not shown. The molding material is carried forward by the feed screw and a portion of it falls into the molds through slots 28 shown in Figs. 1 and at, thus partially filling each mold as it approaches the main feeding point, whichis adjacent to the tapering pjortions'lQ ot the core members The feeding and compacting oi the plastic material et this point is produced by means off; vertical feed screw 30 carried by a shattfil which is mounted in suitable beerings in a housing 32 and carries smite gear 33 meshing'with another miter gear 3e carried by ashaft which is driven from any suitable source of power. A.

scraper 36 is carried by the housing- 32 and serves" to approximately level oh the materialet the tops of the tilled molds as they pass beneath it.

' "Immediately beyond the housing is a roller STW rhich smoothsthe upper surfaces of the blocks and cooperates with the en lerged portions of the core member 16 to giye jthe blocks a further compression. The roller 37 ismounted in bearings 38 in sopportsi39which project from the housings 32 endis yieldingly forced downward by {means of springs 40, the tension of which is hdjustecl by means of screws d1.

Adjacent to the arse or table 20 of the machine, as shown at the left of Fig. 1, is :Ztli BH CllQSS l'ecelvlllg conveyer composed of transyerse strips carri d by endless chains 46 and traveling upon a horizontal he 'chnins e6 extend around sprocket wheels 48 that are secured to e Shaftdd which, its shown, is an idle shaft butwhich may be driven from the main powersliaft 2 by suits le power connecitions. The conveyor is preferably driven ate speedsomewhat greater than the speed st 'wliich the blocks advance past the core members, in order that each finished block nny'be drawn quickly away from its mold before the mold sections turn away from each other toiany great extent in passing around the sprocket Wheels 8.

tl ieir passage along the core members 16., the mold sections are confined between ertical side walls 50 which, as shown in suitable source of ples,

Fig. 4, are channel bars supported by means of brackets 51 a suliicient distance above the base 20 to enable the lower chains it. to pass beneath the channel bars.

The i nchine shown in Figs. 1 to at prol of the form shown in Fig. two openings {owned by the st::

core members 16.

it is desired to producerecesses e tops and bottoms of the blocks the iown in Figs. (3 and i' may in this form of my machine a l strip 55 is secured to the base plate. nesns ot suitable rivets 5%) or the strip being prefer: bly located with portion adjacent to the taperof the core members 16 which, Fig. 6, may be of tlllJLlllll cone. 1d properly shaped to 7).'()ll10 ed openings. A roller which substituted for the roller 37 in d 2 or may be on additional iounted in bearings 58 above the l is so shaped as to form upper 1 the blocks COII'QSPOHdlHS' to the l is produced by the strip In this form of my machine the strip and the roller Iii assist materially in compacting the blocks.

.A further modification oi? my n'mchiue is shown in Fig. 8 and consists essentially in placing the chains which carry the mold one above the other instead of side as in 1 to 5. As shown f 8, the sprocket wheels 60 en rying mold sections are mounted on horizonf lliiil rs 51, and the molding material is o; the molds from both sides by of right-hand and left-hand 'leed screws 29 and respectively, the plastic material being; supplied to the feed screws end 63 by means ot horizontal l'eed scre' (at working in hoppers 65 similar to the hopper 22 in the modification lirsl described. above. Power for rotating the sprocket wheels (30 is derived from :1. power shaft 66 carrying; at its upper end a bevel pinion .ieshinp; with the bevel gear wheel (58 on the lower shaft (il from which power tronsn'iitted tothe upper shutt Gilv through miter 69 end TO, 0. short rerticnl shaft '71, end miter gear wheels and the latter gear wheel beine carried by the higher shaft 61. The feed screws (l9. and 63 are driven tron'i a power visit i through sets oi miter {gears 75 and ill) ing an endless series of molds, the sides of which are formed by the mold sections and the bottom by the base plate 20. As each mold approaches the vertical feed screw 31 it receives a preliminary charge which trickles through the slots 28 in the trough 22. On reaching the feed screw 31 each mold receives its complete charge of plastic material and as the mold continues to advance, the material in the mold is forced outwardly by the tapering portions 19 of the core members 16. Each mold, as it passes beneath the scraper 36, is approximately leveled oil? and the top of the block is smoothed by means of the roller 37. Thereafter the continued movement of the mold sections draws the block away from the core member 16 and delivers the finished block to a delivery carrier 45 which carries the finished blocks to any suitable storage place.

The machine shown in Fig. 8 operates in substantially the same manner as the machine in Figs. 1 to 4:, except that the machine is fed from two opposite sides of the mold instead of from one side only.

Machines constructed according to my present invention may be used in molding blocks from concrete, cinders,or any other plastic molding material that is capable of being fed in granular or semi-liquid condition. It is to be understood that the structural details which I have shown and described are illustrative only and that numerous changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts within the scope of the present claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of two endless conveyers having parallel runs adapted to move in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections carried by the said conveyers and cooperating to form an endless series of molds, means for feeding plastic material into the said molds, and a member extending between the adjacent runs of said conveyer and forming a wall for said molds.

2. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of two endless conveyers having parallel runs adapted to move in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections carried by the said conveyers and cooperating t form an endless series of molds having openings formed therein, a stationary core member extending between the said conveyers and through said openings, and means for feeding plastic material to the said molds.

3. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of two endless conveyers having parallel runs adapted to move in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections carried by the said conveyers, each mold section forming one side and half of one end of a co plete mold, and, a stationar core bar extending between the adjacent runs of the said conveyers and through openings in the ends of the said molds.

In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of two endless conveyers having parallel runs adapted to move in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections carried by the said conveyers and cooperating to form an endless series of molds, and a stationary core bar extending between the adjacent runs of the said conveyers and through openings in the said molds, the said core bar being tapered to exert increasing outward pressure upon plastic material contained in the said molds.

In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of a stationary base or table, two endless conveyers having parallel runs adapted to move on the same base in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections carried by the said conveyers-and, having coinciding openings, stationary side bars confining the said mold sections against outward movement, and a stationary core bar extending between the adjacent runs oi the said conveyers and through the said cc inciding openings in the said mold sections.

6. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of two endless horizontal conveyers carrying mold sections cooperating to form an endless series of molds, means for feeding molding material into the said molds, and an endless conveyer in line with the bottoms of said molds and adapted to receive finished blocks successively from the said molds.

7. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of means for advancing a series of molds, means for introducing a partial charge of molding material into each of the said molds, and means for thereafter filling the said molds with molding material and for compacting the said material therein.

8. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of means for advancing a series of molds, a feed hopper disposed above said molds and having openings for feeding a preliminary charge of molding material into each mold and a feed screw disposed in the said hopper.

9. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of means for advancing a series of molds. a feed hopper disposed above the said molds, a vertical feed screw adapted to receive material from the said hopper and force it downwardly into said molds, and a feed screw contained within the said hopper, the said hopper being provided with longitudinal slots for permitting a preliminary charge of molding material to fall into each mold as it approaches the said vertical feed screws.

10. In apparatus for molding blocks, the comb nation of two endless conveyers having parallel runs adapted to move in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections molds, and a stationary plate extending between the adjacentruns of said conveyers and forming a wall for said molds.

11; In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of two endless conveyers having parallel runs adapted to move in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections carried by the said conveyors and cooperating to form an endless series of molds having openings formed therein, a stationary core member extending between the said conveyers and through said openings, means for feeding plastic material to the said molds, and a stationary plate extending between the adjacent runs of said conveyers and forminga Wall for said mold.

.12; In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination ofa'stationary base or table, two'endless conveyershaving parallel runs adapted to move on the same base in the same direction and at equal speeds, mold sections carried by the said conveyers and having coinciding openings, stationary side bars confining the said mold sections against outward movement, a stationary core bar extending between the adjacent runs of the said conveyers and through the said coinciding openings in the said mold sections,

and a stationary plate extending between the adjacent runs of said conveyors and forming the bottoms of said molds.

13. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination of two endless horizontal conveyers arranged side by side and carrying mold sections cooperating to form an endless series of molds, means for feeding molding material into said molds, a horizontal member extending between the adjacent runs of said conveyors and forming the bottoms of said molds, and an endless conveyor disposed in line with the said member and adapted to receive finished blocks successively from the said molds.

14. In apparatus for molding blocks, the combination. of means for advancing a series of molds, cores disposed in said molds, means for introducing a partial charge of molding material into each of said molds, thereby causing said material to enter the portions of said molds beyond said cores, and means for thereafter filling the said molds with molding material and for compacting the material therein.

In testimony whereof, I, the said GEORGE C. DnnAY, have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE C. DEBAY.

Witnesses Roar. D. TOTTON, J OHN F. WILL. 

